Staff Writer
Showmax is producing a South African adaptation of the global comedy hit The Office, licensed by BBC Studios. The new series, titled Die Kantoor, is filmed mainly in Afrikaans. kykNET will air a preview of the first episode at 20:00 on Sunday, 18 January, ahead of the Showmax double-episode premiere on Tuesday, 20 January.
It has been more than 20 years since the world was introduced to the mockumentary style of The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Metacritic lists the original British version as the best-reviewed comedy series of all time.
The American version won five Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and was the most streamed show globally in 2020.
The format’s wide appeal has led to remakes in countries such as Australia, France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, and Poland. The South African production will be the 14th adaptation.
Rapid Blue, part of BBC Studios, is producing the Showmax Original, while BBC Studios manages global sales.
Award-winning filmmaker Bennie Fourie is the head writer and director. He co-created the SAFTA-winning comedy Hotel and stars in the mockumentary Magda Louw.
“It’s a massive honour to be able to make the show,” says Bennie.
“When we started way back with Hotel, this was the type of show that we were trying to emulate. I don’t think we were ready to make it then, but after 10 years of playing with the mockumentary genre, now is the perfect time for us to do this. Everything has really fallen into place, and we’re extremely excited.”
Bennie said the project is not a direct Afrikaans translation. Instead, it has been rebuilt for local audiences.
“South Africa is not the UK, and it’s not the US, and we really wanted to reflect that,” he said.
The reimagining begins with the setting, shifting from a paper company to Deluxe Processed Meats, which specialises in polony.
“South Africa is a proud meat-consuming nation,” Bennie said.
“From biltong to droëwors to steak, many South Africans find some of our identity in the meat we eat. But polony is not on that list. It’s just so flipping pink. When you’re standing around a braai, the last thing you want to say is that you are passionate about polony. Especially after that listeriosis outbreak.”
In the series, the staff are dismissed by their parent company, Deluxe Meats, which deals in premium cuts. Job security is low after a BBBEE consortium bought a large share of the business.
Rapid Blue, which earlier produced Is’thunzi—earning Thuso Mbedu two International Emmy nominations—has put together a cast mixing well-known and new talent. 2025 Fleur du Cap winner Albert Pretorius (Niggies, Nêrens, Noord-Kaap) leads as Flip, the office manager.
“Flip’s only been the manager for the last year, but he’s excited to welcome the documentary crew. He feels like this is his Chasing the Sun, like his rise to greatness needs to be recorded.”
The ensemble also features SAFTA winner Schalk Bezuidenhout (Kanarie, Hotel), Lida Botha (Die Kwiksilvers), Carl Beukes (Jozi), Ilse Oppelt (Oh Schuks I’m Gatvol), Daniah de Villiers (Mia and the White Lion), Mehboob Bawa (Bhai’s Cafe), former KFM presenter Sipumziwe Lucwaba and newcomer Gert du Plessis.
Caption
SAFTA winner Schalk Bezuidenhout as Tjaart in Die Kantoor.
Photo: MultiChoice
